When the calendar flips to late July I start to feel that gentle ­– and thrilling – pressure: If I don’t break away now, autumn will beat me to it. Luckily, some of North America’s most spectacular drives are built for spontaneity.

If you have ever seen movies like “Eat, Pray, Love” or “Under the Tuscan Sun,” you may have wondered what it would be like to travel around Italy and live like a local. Maybe you are ready to turn this dream into a reality, but where do you even begin? There is so much to plan.

For the past 20 years, my wife and I have been avid attendees of music festivals. We've camped in tents under starlit skies, borrowed RVs that rattled down dusty roads, and more recently, we've been exploring festivals in our trusty pop-top camper van—a perfect home on wheels that even our soon-to-be six-year-old son adores.

It was a crisp summer morning when I embarked on what promised to be an unforgettable adventure through the Canadian Rockies. My journey began at Calgary International Airport, where I boarded the Brewster Express at the arrivals terminal. The hour-and-a-half drive was extremely scenic, with each mile bringing me closer to the Rockies.

As the Fourth of July approaches, numerous renowned hotels and resorts across the United States are preparing to offer travelers unforgettable experiences to celebrate Independence Day in style.

The sun beats down golden upon the medieval city of Split, Croatia, its ancient structures reflecting off the shimmering and placid waters of the Adriatic Sea.